I.v. intens. a. [delicio].
I. To allure from the right path, to entice away, to seduce (only ante-class.): me Apollo ipse delectat, ductat Delphicus, Enn. ap. Non. 97, 32 (Trag. v. 390 Vahl.: delectare, illicere, attrahere, Non.): hostem, Quadrig. ib. 98, 2: “ubi sementem facturus eris, ibi oves delectato,” keep back, Cato R. R. 30 (also copied in Plin. 17, 9, 6, § 55). —
II. Meton. (effectus pro causa), to delight, sc. by attracting, alluring; to please, charm, amuse (freq. and class.; cf.: oblecto, juvo): mentem atque animum delectat suum, Enn. ap. Gell. 19, 10, 12: “Pamphilam arcesse, ut delectet hic nos,” Ter. Eun. 4, 1, 11: “non tam ista me sapientiae fama delectat, quam, etc.,” Cic. Lael. 4, 15; id. ib. 6 fin.: “sive Falernum to magis delectat,” Hor. S. 2, 8, 17 al.—With abl.: “delectari multis inanibus rebus, ut honore, ut gloria, etc.: animo autem virtute praedito ... non admodum delectari,” Cic. Lael. 14: “jumentis,” Caes. B. G. 4, 2: “imperio,” id. B. C. 3, 82: “criminibus inferendis,” Cic. Lael. 18, 65: “carminibus,” Hor. Od. 4, 1, 23; cf. “iambis (with gaudere carmine),” id. Ep. 2, 2, 59 et passim: “interea cum Musis nos delectabimus aequo animo,” id. Att. 2, 4, 2; cf.: “cum Musis delectari,” Hyg. Astr. 2, 27.—With ab and abl.: “ut me ab eo delectari facilius quam decipi putem posse,” Cic. Div. in Caecil. 13 fin.; so, “ab aliquo,” id. Fin. 1, 5, 14; id. Or. 57, 195 et saep.—With in and abl.: “in hoc admodum delector, quod, etc.,” id. Leg. 2, 7, 17 Goer.; cf. id. Fin. 1, 11, 39; id. Fam. 6, 4; cf.: “ille me delectat in omni genere,” id. Att. 16, 5, 2: “in alio sua quemque natura delectat,” Plin. Pan. 45, 1.—In ellipt. style, impers.: “me magis de Dionysio delectat,” Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 13 fin.—With inf. as subject: “quam delectabat eum defectiones solis et lunae multo ante nobis praedicere,” Cic. Lael. 14, 49; id. Tusc. 3, 26, 63; Quint. 1, 1, 29: “aedificare casas ... si quem delectet barbatum,” Hor. S. 2, 3, 249; cf.: “me pedibus delectat claudere verba,” id. ib. 2, 1, 28: “delectat Veneris decerpere flores,” Ov. R. Am. 103.—In pass.: vir bonus et prudens dici delector, Hor. Ep. 1, 16, 32; Phaedr. 5, 3, 9: delectat, impers. (late Lat.), Boeth. Cons. Phil. 2, 3.
